HomeMy WebLinkAboutA011 - Requests from Ames Main Street to extend free parking to include all remaining Saturdays in December 2025 to support small businessesITEM #:12
DATE:12-09-25
DEPT:ADMIN
SUBJECT:REQUESTS FROM AMES MAIN STREET TO EXTEND FREE PARKING TO
INCLUDE ALL REMAINING SATURDAYS IN DECEMBER 2025
COUNCIL ACTION FORM
BACKGROUND:
Ames Main Street (AMS) previously submitted requests for Small Business Saturday on
November 29, 2025, which included providing free parking at metered spaces in Downtown
and Campustown. The City Council approved the requests and approved a transfer of
$2,468.25 from the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund to the Parking Fund to reimburse the waived fees.
Due to a significant early snowfall event on that date, organizers asked for an additional round
of these same requests for Saturday, December 6, 2025. This request was approved by the
City Council in the Special Meeting held on Tuesday, December 3, 2025.
On December 4, 2025, AMS submitted a letter extending its request to include all remaining
Saturdays in December in order to provide continued support to small businesses. To facilitate
this, organizers are requesting a blanket Temporary Obstruction Permit and suspension of
parking regulations and enforcement for the Downtown and Campustown Areas from 8:00
a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on December 13, 20, and 27, 2025 ($7,404.75 estimated loss to the
Parking Fund).
In February 2020, the City Council adopted the following new policy regarding metered
parking waivers:
Metered parking fees will not be waived for special events. Any event organizers
intending to provide free parking or to close metered parking spaces must reimburse
the City’s Parking Fund for the lost revenue. The City Council may consider waivers to
this policy on a case-by-case basis for parking spaces that are obstructed by the event
area (not for area-wide free parking).
A total of $10,000 has been included in the FY 2025/26 adopted budget in the Hotel/Motel Tax
Fund to support parking waivers. The table below illustrates the budget for these waivers:
Expenses Funding Source
Summer Sidewalk
Sales $ 1,370.25
Small Business
Saturday 2,468.25
Small Business
Saturday Re-Do
(approved)
2,468.25
Winter Sidewalk Sales
(approved)1,370.25
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Additional Saturdays in
December (this
request)
7,404.75
Hotel/Motel Tax Fund $ 10,000.00
TOTAL $ 15,081.75 TOTAL $ 10,000.00
Shortfall -$ 5,081.75
The request results in exceeding the budgeted amount by $5,081.75. This amount can be
taken from the available balance in the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund, which was $1,635,024 as of
September 30, 2025.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Approve the requests for free parking in all of Downtown and Campustown for the
remaining Saturdays in December 2025 as requested by Ames Main Street, including
the waiver of fees, and transfer of $7,404.75 from the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund to the
Parking Fund.
2. Deny the requests.
CITY MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Small Business Saturday is an annual event for the Downtown and Campustown areas.
This event aims to attract people to Downtown and Campustown and promotes
shopping locally to kick off the holiday shopping season. Although parking was made
free on the original November 29 date, it was not heavily utilized due to the abnormally
severe winter weather. Ames Main Street requested a second round of free parking on
December 6 to compensate for this, but as of the time of this writing, another round of
significant snowfall is expected on that date. To encourage local shopping on
subsequent Saturdays to accommodate for these unusual snowfall events, Ames Main
Street has requested additional free parking days in December. Sufficient funding is
available to reimburse the Parking Fund for the loss of revenue. Therefore, it is the
recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt Alternative No. 1, as noted
above.
ATTACHMENT(S):
AMS Letter of Request 12-4-25.pdf
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304 Main Street, Ames, IA 50010 | 515.233.3472 | AmesDowntown.org
Ames Main Street advances and promotes Downtown Ames as the heart of the Ames community.
December 4, 2025
Ames City Hall
515 Clark Ave.
Ames, IA 50010
Mayor and Members of the Ames City Council,
On behalf of Ames Main Street, I respectfully request that this letter be placed on the agenda
for your meeting on Tuesday, December 9.
As we move through the remainder of the 2025 holiday season, our Downtown and
Campustown businesses are experiencing a critical need for increased customer traffic. To
help support these districts during this important time, we are requesting consideration for
extending free parking on Saturdays for the rest of December 2025. Feedback from our
business owners shows that providing this added convenience results in more residents and
visitors come to shop locally and strengthen our business community during one of the
busiest retail periods of the year.
Thank you for your time and consideration. We appreciate your continued support of a
vibrant and thriving Ames.
Onward!
Travis Toliver, IOM
Executive Director
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